“The story of Anne the elephant, is very close to my heart! When the original news broke, with the video of her being beaten, I posted it onto Care 2; along with a petition & sent many letters to Lord Henley & the Government; including my MP. I was so pleased, when all the petitions put together made sure she was able to leave that place, imagine being shackled to the floor unable to move but a step forward or back!

“The MF that beat Anne got wind of the news in advance, somebody grassed that they police were coming for him, which is why he did a runner. Who knows, perhaps the Roberts told him to go, thinking if he left the case would be over? just hope that justice is served, & Anne did not suffer in vain; although I would have preferred the actual person seen beating Anne, to also be on trial!”

The trial of circus owners Bobby and Moira Roberts is due to go ahead on Monday 19 November, following video evidence filmed by ADI showing a worker of the Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus kicking and beating their elephant, Anne, at their winter quarters last year.

1. Causing the elephant to suffer unnecessarily, by requiring the elephant to be chained to the ground at all times, contrary to section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

2. Failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their employee from causing unnecessary suffering to the elephant, by repeatedly beating it, contrary to section 4(2) of the same Act.

3. Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the elephant were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to section 9 of the same Act.

This is a test case, the first trial of circus owners and their responsibilities under the ‘duty of care’ detailed in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Anne is a 59 year old female elephant wild caught in Sri Lanka and bought by the Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus in the 1950s. Anne was transferred to a safari park with the owners’ consent following the release of the ADI video in 2011.

Here are a few of letters I sent regards Anne & animals in general in the circus. You can tell by my MP’s response to one letter; I was implying that no animal should be forced to perform for human entertainment. Click on each page to read:-

Campaigners will wear badger costumes at the free event. The charities are urging local people to come along and demonstrate their opposition to the cull.

The pilot culls are designed to reduce tuberculosis in cattle. Farmers and the government say the disease, which can be spread by badgers as well as among cattle, has become a huge cost to the industry. In 2010-11, nearly 25,000 cattle were slaughtered in England at a cost of £91m in government compensation.

But the charities say scientific studies have shown that culling would be of little help in reducing the disease and even suggest that it could make things worse in some areas.

Research undertaken by the Independent Scientific Group that took nearly a decade, cost approximately £50million and the lives of 11,000 badgers concluded “badger culling can make no meaningful contribution tocattle TB control in Britain”, they say.

The Stop the Cull campaign is pushing for the government to rethink their policy and implement a vaccination programme, along with increased levels of testing, improved farm biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle rather than culling 70% of the badger population, the vast majority of which are disease free.

Gavin Grant, chief executive of the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA and many other organisations oppose the cull of badgers for both scientific and animal welfare reasons. The campaign is rapidly gaining public support and over 100,000 objections to the cull have been recorded to date. The Government should look at the science, the results achieved in Wales and change their policy to one of vaccination – let’s cure and not kill.”

Meanwhile, their campaign has drawn cross-party support from Bristol, including leading Conservatives. Bristol24-7 reported in March that the Conservative Party spokesman in Bristol West had urged the coalition government to scrap its controversial plans.

Graham Godwin-Pearson’s statement came after Conservative think-tank the Bow Group unveiled a major paper saying the culls were likely to be more costly and less practical to conduct than ministers believe.

Jan Creamer, Chief Executive of ADI said:“This is a political and ethical matter that should be decided by the majority public will. Yet the Governmenthas repeatedly ignored the public and parliamentary will on this issue. We asked this question because Defra had already revealed in their impact assessment that a licensing scheme would cost £75,600 as a one-off cost as well as annual costs of £19,400. What is interesting is that Defra has not disclosed how much they have already spent on a licensing scheme, which flies in the face of the decision of the MPs Backbench Committee of the House of Commons in June of last year which directed the Government to ban wild animals in circuses”

In a response to a written question from Mike Hancock MP on behalf of ADI, Defra replied that their budget from July 2012 to October 2012 for taking forward the implementation of licensing regulations, as well as developing the case for a ban on the use of performing wild animals in travelling circuses, is estimated at £261,000. No mention is made of how much has been spent to date.

Commenting, the RSPCA’s Chief Executive Gavin Grant said “The question which needs to be asked is: does the government intend to stay true to its word? We have been studying the details of the plans and find them vague and littered with contradictions. Nothing short of a proper ban will safeguard the welfare of these majestic animals. Everyone who cares about these animals agrees. So let’s get on with it.”

At the time of the original announcement, DEFRA also announced the introduction of a licensing scheme to ensure that wild animals in circuses are kept to certain welfare standards until such time as a full ban can be brought into force.

Details of a consultation period to allow the general public to offer their input on the licensing scheme may be found here, and the consultation period will close on April 25th 2012.

“PLEASE USE THE LINK ABOVE OR below TO SPEAK UP! DEFRA want people’s thoughts & opinions on the licensing scheme…PLEASE…Use your voice via the link to tell DEFRA WE WANT A COMPLETE BAN, NOTHING ELSE…You only have until APRIL25th TO SPEAK UP…HAVING DONE THE QUESTIONNAIRE, IF YOU CAN’T THINK OF AN ANSWER…Just write this in every box…BAN WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES…That’s what the British public have always wanted!!

ADI has decided that Defra’s so-called public consultation on regulations on animals in circuses is manipulative in the extreme and designed to give the Government the answer they want, with no choice of options. Defra did not like the answer they got on their genuine consultation (finalised in 2010) where nearly 95% of the public voted for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. They have now put together a set of questions that ensures they get the answer they want, which is to regulate rather than end the suffering of these animals.

The animal circus business has been shown, repeatedly, to tolerate violence towards animals and the conditions that the animals are forced to endure would not be tolerated in the worst zoo. We cannot endorse measures which we do not believe will protect animals. It is a national disgrace, when other countries are taking decisive action on this issue. We urge our supporters to boycott this farce of a consultation.

Jan Creamer: “We were promised a ban in 2006. This was followed by consultations, expert examinations, working parties, impact assessments and feasibility studies. The last public consultation gave an overwhelming 95% of public in favour of a ban. Yet Defra wants another consultation. Are they going to keep going until they get the answer they want?”

Before the last election there was a Government commitment for a ban, which evaporated after the General Election. Today, the Coalition Government claimed there would be legislation tabled by 2015, by which time there will either be a new Government or we will be in the throws of the election. And this Government will be directly responsible for all of the animal suffering that they have chosen not to end.

“Below are just a few of the replies, I received after writing many to varying Government bodies, my MP etc, regards animals abuse & a ban on wild animals in circuses. I received the same red herring that many have spoken about!”

“Below is the link to the petition I started on Care2, to get Anne the elephant moved from her abusive home at Bobby RobertsCircus; many were involved but collectively, we succeeded. Anne now lives a happier more contented life, she will never have to perform again!.”

“I wanted to show the link to prove a point, which is, when enough people rise up together & use the voices God gave us…we can shout loud enough & be heard. We can help end the suffering of many animals around the world. YOU just have to decide if your going to let your voice be part of the choir, or not!”

People all over the country were overjoyed when a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses was announced in March. But as the weeks go by the more doubts the RSPCA has over the Westminster governments true commitment to a ban and question how seriously they’re taking the welfare of the animals in the meantime.

Below outlines just a few of the RSPCA’s concerns:

In a correspondence dated 30 March a civil servant at Defra states “I am not aware we have ever suggested that the licensing scheme would be a ‘temporary’ measure…”.

The proposals may encourage some circuses to obtain more wild animals whilst a ban is pursued, some circuses have stated that they would seek to gain more if the licensing scheme went ahead.

The guidelines which outline plans for a licensing scheme to be implemented in the interim, do nothing to improve the welfare of wild animals.

Despite the government’s stated intentions to ban, licences for a full 10 years will be available for applications by circuses.

In short, the scheme could cause even more suffering to even more animals, if only for three years until the end of this parliament, that’s three years too long and as the government have made no commitment to a deadline for a ban we remain pessimistic.

Defra did not like the answer they got on their genuine consultation (finalised in 2010) where nearly 95% of the public voted for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

They have now put together a set of questions that ensures they get the answer they want, which is to regulate rather than end the suffering of these animals.

The animal circus business has been shown, repeatedly, to tolerate violence towards animals and the conditions that the animals are forced to endure would not be tolerated in the worst zoo.

We cannot endorse measures which we do not believe will protect animals. It is a national disgrace, when other countries are taking decisive action on this issue. We urge our supporters to boycott this farce of a consultation.

“Let me remind you what it’s like to be a circus animal, nothing but abuse, beaten into submission to perform degrading tricks for the viewing public…How could anyone condone this treatment?? I am ashamed of our Government for not listening to the public’s opinion & making an out right ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, as other Countries have! How much more evidence or suffering do they need to see? “

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Defra announced: “The Government will seek to introduce primary legislation at the earliest opportunity to achieve its much-stated desire to ban travelling circuses from using performing wild animals.”Animal Welfare Minister Lord Taylor said:“There is no place in today’s society for wild animals being used for our entertainment in travelling circuses. Wild animals deserve our respect.”

Mark Pritchard MP who led last year’s Commons debate: “If the government ignore the will of Parliament they will be moving towards a constitutional crisis as well as once again confirming their reputation as being against animal welfare legislation”

Mary Creagh MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to the Defra consultation on licensing wild animals in circuses said: ”Last year Parliament voted unanimously for a ban on wild animals in circuses with the backing of 95% of the public. Defra Ministers showed how out of touch with the public they are and hid behind spurious threats of legal challenges in the EU as an excuse for doing nothing.

“Today, Ministers announce a licensing regime until aban comes in 2015, saying there is no room on the parliamentary timetable for new legislation. Yet only yesterday they introduced a water bill into the house, which will be passed in 2 days. There is nothing to stop them doing the same thing for circus animals, but it’s clear that animal welfare is way down the list of this Government’s priorities.”

Jan Creamer Chief Executive of Animal Defenders International (ADI) said: “It is almost unprecedented for Government to be so cavalier in its disregard for public and Parliamentary opinion. There is absolutely overwhelming evidence of circus suffering and not a single animal welfare body that will defend this industry. This is utter betrayal. To suggest that the public bears the extra cost of an inspection and licensing regime, and then follow up with a ban, is ludicrous.”

The President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) used his annual London dinner speech to call on the Government to protect the UK’s veterinary surveillance network, support better welfare at slaughter, and take action on dog breeding regulations.

The Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Defra, also addressed guests, including parliamentarians, veterinary surgeons, and representatives from the agri-food industry, pet industry, welfare charities, research and veterinary education

BVA President Carl Padgett stressed the importance of a robust surveillance system in the UK, calling on Defra to listen to the recommendations of the surveillance review group before making any lasting decisions:

“We struggle to understand the mixed messages. First AHVLA announced these significant changes to the veterinary laboratory network and then it announced a review group to look at surveillance. This seemed to be a clear case of putting the cart before the horse….

“We would urge Defra and AHVLA to slow down, give the surveillance review group time for full consideration, and listen carefully to any recommendations it makes. Decisions made now will impact on our future ability to deliver that first line of defence and if we lose the infrastructure of our veterinary surveillance system it will almost certainly be impossible to rebuild.”

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DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

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PLEASE NOTE.....
Not all of my posts will be current news, or even about animal abuse! I do like to share other animal news, uplifting stories or videos; some that are funny or just touch the heart!

If I have anything to say on any post, you will see it in bold blue writing. I try to remain a lady, but it's hard to contain my anger & emotions at the some of the stories I post; I don’t have a heart of stone, tears stain many articles I write!

Lastly, my apologies for any errors; I am learning whilst posting, so if you find anything that doesn't work or a broken link, sorry, I'm only human!!!!

ABOUT THESE POSTS

I would just like to make readers aware, that I search for stories on the internet; regards animal abuse etc. I copy stories etc. from the internet; assuming these stories are correct at time of publishing. Having said that, sometimes the press get it wrong! So I just want to add that at the time of me posting a news story, I presume all the facts seem present & correct.
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DUE TO ANIMAL HATERS...I WILL ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WHO THEY ARE via Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter etc. & WHO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN ANIMAL WELFARE... i.e. if your Facebook page has absolutely nothing to do with animals, I see no point in joining my page. My Facebook is solely for animal welfare, I am not interested in playing games etc. I don't mean to sound rude but I am not interested in the amount of friends I have, its the quality of those friends that count.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN. I do not want anyone to be upset by graphic images etc.
My aim is to educate & raise awareness to the horrors animals face, at the hands of humans, every day, around the world!!
We can not hope to achieve better laws, to protect animals, unless we unite as one, to speak up for those who are voiceless!!
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